Screw or like nicking machine



0, 1954 v. H. FRAY SCREW 0R LIKE urcxmc MACHINE Filed Sept. 2, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I INVENTOR ymrwe 6 1699/ g/W, JfA-Jv Aug. 10, 1954 v. H. FRAY SCREW 0R LIKE NICKING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 2, 1950 INVENIOR Maia. 664.1. Fen

Patented Aug. 10, 1954 2,685,698 SCREW R LIKE NICKING MACHINE Victor Hill Fray, Auckland, New Zealand Application September 2, 1950, Serial No. 182,976

Claims priority, application New Zealand October 17, 1949 16 Claims.

This invention relates to screw or like nicking machines of the type as described in my previous U. S. A. Patent Application Serial No. 72,215 of January 22, 1949, now Patent No. 2,621,343 issued December 16, 1952, and has for its principal object the provision of an improved machine of this type comprising mechanism for the feed-in of the blanks to the slots of the carrier drum in such a manner as will ensure the avoidance of blockages and the provision of what may be considered as a power feed of the blanks to the machine.

The present invention has been devised to ensure that the blanks are positively fed into the machine at correct intervals to agree with the blank receiving slots of the machine and to provide a feed of the blanks by power as against gravity feed. In addition to other advantages, the provision of a power feed permits the machine to be disposed, if desired, horizontally as against its usual inclined position.

The present invention also contemplates the provision of novel and improved, power-actuated, blank feeding mechanism which will be positive in operation and will feed blanks at predetermined intervals at extremely high speeds and which comprises a feed-in wheel having axial blank-receiving slots adapted to be rotated in timed relation to the operation of other parts of a machine with which it is employed.

The invention resides in certain constructions and combinations and arrangements of parts and further objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates from the following description of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

In describing the invention reference will be made to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows an elevation of the screw nicker and hopper-feed apparatus as mounted to a common bedplate,

Figure 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1, but with the bedplate deleted and not showing trays, band guards and such like which are portions of the hopper-feed apparatus,

Figure 3 is an enlarged plan View of the apparatus in the vicinity of the feed wheel,

' Figure 4 is a sectional elevation on line A--B of Fig.

Figure 5 is a partial sectional plan view taken between the upper and lower portions of the feed wheel,

Figure 6 shows a partial view similar to that of Fig. 3 but including an alignment wheel for use when the blanks to be nicked have countersunk heads and Figure 7 is an elevation of the alignment wheel mechanism as applied to the feed wheel for use on countersunk headed blanks.

In the invention, the known type of screw nicking machine comprises (see Figs. 1 and 2) a carrier drum l of ring form which is secured to or integral with a gear wheel 2 disposed on the end of a hollow shaft (not shown) which is rotatable within a head 3, this head 3 being secured to a bedplate 4 and the carrier drum face la having slots 5 cut therein which are of substantially ratchet form and are disposed radially, the head 3 also rotatably carrying a horizontal saw spindle 6 which is eccentrically located therein so that a metal cutting saw I on the end of the spindle 6 closely approaches one side of the inner periphery lb of said carrier drum I adjacent to the slots 5, such screw nicking machine including the retaining plate or pressure pad 8, (see Fig. 3) the head retaining segment 9 and also a cover plate [0, duplex drive sprockets ll being secured to the saw spindle 6 and there being other known mechanism (not shown).

Hopper-feed apparatus which is substantially of the type as described in my previous U. S. A. patent application Serial No. 95,492 of May 26, 1949, now Patent No. 2,639,445 isued May 26, 1953, is also mounted to the bedplate 4 and is used in conjunction with the screw nicking machine for feeding the blanks to the latter at the required speed, such hopper-feed apparatus having a rotatable hopper I 2, a pair of rollers 33 with a drive spindle [4, an endless conveyor belt or band passing over rotatable band wheels l6 and lfia which are disposed at opposite ends of the bedplate 4 and a rigid bar I1 and rubbing strip 18 (see Fig. 3) disposed parallel with one reach of the band l5, a vertical gap l9 being presented between the rigid bar I7 and the said band It down within which the shank portions 20a of the blanks 29 hang, with their heads 20!) resting on the top edge of the band l5 and, if desired, on the top edge of the rigid bar ll.

For the purposes of the present invention, the drives to the screw nicking machine and. the hopper-feed apparatus comprise an electric mo tor 2 lmounted on the bedplate 4 and connected by a coupling 22 to a worm reduction gearing 23, the worm wheel shaft of the latter forming the main drive shaft 24 of the machine, this main drive shaft 24 at its front end having a bevel pinion 25 which is in mesh with a bevel pinion 26 on a side shaft 21 which extends to a bevel pinion 28 which is in mesh with a bevel wheel 29 at the bottom of a vertical shaft 30, this vertical shaft 30 having a pinion at its top, this pinion 3! being in mesh with a gear ring 32 secured to the bottom of the band wheel 16a, such vertical shaft also having a pulley 33 thereon from which a belt drive 34 passes to over a pulley 35a on a further vertical shaft 355, skew gearing 36 at the top of this shaft 35 transmitting a drive to the drive spindle l4 of the pair of rollers l3.

The main drive shaft 24 also carries a pulley 3'5 connected by belt 38 to a pulley 39 on a pinion shaft 40, the pinion 4| on the latter being in mesh with a gear ring 42 which is secured to the back of the hopper l2.

Duplex sprockets 43 (see Fig. 2) on the main drive shaft 2 t have sprocket chains M passing therefrom to over the drive sprockets ll of the saw spindle 6, while a further sprocket 45 on the main shaft 24 transmits a drive through a chain 46 to the sprocket 41 on the drive shaft 48 of a change speed gear box 49 which is mounted on the bedplate 4.

The main drive shaft 24 also includes other pulleys for the driving of other known mechanism which is incidental to the screw nicker and feeder mechanisms, such as coolant liquid pumps, clearing wheels and such like which have not been shown.

The gear box 49 includes the usual control lever 49a and the drive transmitting shaft tit of such gear box as carries a pinion 5! which is in mesh with an intermediate gear 52 which is secured to a countershaft 53, this intermediate gear 52 being also in mesh with the gear wheel 2 of the carrier drum 1.

At a point on the conveyor which is presented by the rigid bar if and the travelling band 65 and located where the band is about to pass on to the band wheel 16, the rigid bar l'i ends to permit of the introduction of a feed wheel 54, such feed wheel 54 (see Figs. 3, 4 and 5) being mounted on top of a vertical spindle or shaft 55 and having ratchet like teeth 54a at the upper and lower portions 54?) and 550 thereof with a plain reduced diametered portion 5401 between, the teeth Eta and the recesses or spaces between such teeth coinciding in the upper and lower portions 542) and 540 of the wheel 5d, the pitch of the teeth 54a being preferably such as to agree with the distances between the blank receiving slots 5 of. the screw nicker carrier drum i.

The periphery of such feed wheel 54 sweeps across and blocks the space or gap is between the rigid bar I! and the travelling band it, as being just short of in contact with the latter and also sweeps across the face is of the carrier drum 1- just short of in contact with same, it being the object of this feed wheel 54 to pick up the blanks 2% from the conveyor and to divert same and carry them tothe carrier drum I of the screw nicking apparatus.

The top level of the feed wheel 54 coincides with the top level of the conveyor band IE5- and the rigid bar ii and similarly coincides with the level of the inner periphery or bore lb of the carrier drum I atthe bottom of the latter.

A rigid guide block 56 has an arcuate face 560. which is disposed adjacent to the side of the feedwheel 55, the block 56 extending from near the side of the band l5 to near the face la of the carrier drum, the rigid bar I! extending to near the opposite side of the feed wheel 5d, the level of the top of the guide block 56 coinciding with the level of the top of, the feed wheel 54.

A deflector-cam 51. (see Fig. 5) extends to between the upper and lower. portions 54b and 540, of the feed wheelt i, this cam presenting a curved,

deflector face 51a against which the shanks 26a of the blanks 20 come to bear in their travel towards the carrier drum I so that this deflector face 51a diverts them out of the slots of the feed wheel 54 into the carrier drum slots 5.

This deflector cam 51 may be rigidly secured, but is preferably floating so as to allow for any irregularities in thediameters of the shanks 20a of the blanks 29 and for this purpose the deflector cam 5! extends closely around the reduced portion 54d of the feed wheel 5:: and has a lug 51b which is retained against the pressure pad 3 in a loose manner by a clip 58 secured to the latter, the pressure pad 8 and the head retaining segment 9 having their bottom ends providedwith curved faces to which closely approach the periphery of the feed wheel 54.

There is a positive drive between the carrier drum 1' of the nicking machine and the feed wheel 55 so that the slots or spaces between the teeth E la of the latter will register correctly with the spaces or slots 5 between the teeth of the carrier drum, the direction of rotation of this eed wheel 5 being, such (see Fig. 3) as to pick up the blanks 29 as travelling to same along the conveyor band !5 and divert them to the screw nicking machine which takes them off the feed wheel 54.

This positive drive between the carrier drum i of the screw nicking machine and the feed wheel T l comprises (see- Figs. 1 and a bevel pinion 59 on the bottom of the feed wheel vertical spindle or shaft 55 in mesh with a bevel pinion 56 on one end of a horizontal shaft iii, a pinion til at the other end of the shaft 5! being in mesh with a pinion 63 on the lower end of an angularly disposed shaft 64, the top end of the shaft 66 carrying a pinion 65 which is in mesh with a pinion 56 mounted on the countershaft 53.

It will be obvious that other drives could be applied between the carrier drum l and the feed wheel 54 to. obtain the required relationship between their respective rotations.

The apparatus described is satisfactory when handling blanks which have round heads or cheese heads, in that these present flat faces under their heads which bear fiat on the band I5 and the rigid bar H, but the blanks which have countersunk heads do not travel along the conveyor means so uniformly upright because of their angular undersides.

The result is that occasionally a blank 21] is not truly upright when it reaches the feed wheel 54 and there may be a jamming tendency because of the shanks 2011 not passing fairly to between the-upperand lower teeth 54a of the feed wheelupper and lower portions 54b and 540.

To overcome this difficulty which applies only in respect of the countersunk headed blanks, an alignment wheel 61 (see Figs. 6 and 7) is located just above the feed wheel 5d substantially atthe position of entry of the blanks 2i) to said feed wheel 54, this alignment wheel 6'? having recesses 51a formed in its periphery which are such as will be suited to engage around substantially half of a countersunk head.

This alignment wheel 61 is freely rotatably disposed on an axle or the like iiib to the top of which a radial arm 68 extends substantially horizontally to. an integral or attached pair of lugs 68a, these lugs 68a being pivotally mounted on a vertical pin 69 which is held by a bracket 10 which is secured to the cover plate it or to other suitably rigid'part of the head 3, a spring H on the pin 6% engaging between the bracket 'tion of. the rotation of the feed wheel.

5 'IIl-andthe lugs 58a to tend to force the alignment-wheel 61 towards the band I5.

,In use or operation, with a supply of the blanks 20 passing from the rotating hopper I 2 along the travelling band or conveyor, these blanks 20 can travel only so far as the feed wheel 54 which blocks-the gap. I9 down within which the shanks 20a of the blanks 20 are hanging vertically, with the heads 20b of the blanks 20 resting on the top edges of the travelling band I5 and the rigid bar I1. I The rotation of the feed wheel 54 is causing its teeth 54a to sweep across this gap I9 of the conveyor and as the slots or spaces between the teeth 54a are such as to take only one blankeach, the blanks are caught up by their shanks 20a passing between the teeth 54a and are carried away towards the carrier drum I, their heads 20b resting on the top face of the feed wheel 54 and also on the guide block 56; As the band I5 passes closely to the periphery of the feed wheel 54 it carries the blanks 20 along in the direc- This movement of the band I5and the blanks tends to assist the blanks into the spaces between the teeth 54a.

The blanks 20 while resting on the band conveyor are all separately rotating or spinning because of the band I5 traveling at a greater speed than the blanks travel along the conveyor and because of the opposite sides of the blanks being engaged by the rigid non-movable bar I! and the travelling band I5, this rotation or spin of the blanks 20 being an advantage when they come into contact with the feed wheel 54 as tending to cause them to slide smoothly into the spaces between the teeth 54a of the feed wheel 54 without jamming tendency, but in the event of the sharp corner of a tooth 54a of the feed wheel 54 coming to bear hard on a blank 20, the band I5 will bend away from the feed wheel 54 to free the blank so that it correctly enters the feed wheel 54 or drops out of the conveyor.

For this purpose there may be extra clearance between the band I5 and the rubbing strip I8 in the vicinity of the feed wheel 54, the rubbing strip terminating at the feed wheel 54 if so desired, this however, not being essential.

The rotation of the feed wheel 54 is therefore resulting in the blanks 29 being carried by same from the conveyor to the carrier drum I, with the slots between the teeth 54a of the feed wheel 54 registering with the slots 5 of the carrier drum I at the adjacent portions of the feed wheel 54 and the carrier drum I, the deflector cam 51 because of its curved face 51a, engaging behind the shanks 20a of the blanks as they approach the carrier drum I so that said blanks 20 are gradually pushed in a radial direction out of the feed wheel slots and enter those of the carrier drum I as such slots coincide, such carrier drum I then conveying the blanks 20 in the circular path to behind the pressure pad 8, the heads 2% being nicked in the known manner by the nicking saw 1;

When the blanks to be nicked are of countersunk head type as shown in Figs-6 and 7, the alignment wheel mechanism is applied to the screw nicker apparatus and as the spring H is yieldingly forcing the alignment wheel 61 towards the travelling band I5, the blanks 20 encounter this alignment wheel with their heads 20b just as their shanks 20a are approaching the feed wheel 54.

Portions of the heads 2% of the blanks 20 are therefore caused to pass into the recesses 61a of 6 the alignment Wheel 61, this, causing themt'o assume upright positions if not already upright and thus their shanks 20 are truly engaged by the feed'wheel 54, the rotationof the alignment wheel 61 as caused by the push of the blanks as caused by the travel of the band I5, spacing the blanks apart at the correct intervals for true entry to the feed wheel '54. r

With the electric motor 2| effecting the drive to the main drive shaft 24, the whole of the apparatus isobviously simultaneously operated, but the actuation of the control lever 49a of the change speed gear box 49 can stop the drive to the carrier drum I and the feed wheel 54 and also permit of these being driven at faster or slower speeds, inthat the blanks 20 may be made of steel or of brass and thus require slower speeds of travel past the nicking saw I when of the harder metal.

Whilethe feed apparatus of the present invention is primarily intended for eifecting the feed-in of blanks to a machine in the nature of a screw or like nicker of the type referred to, such apparatus may be employed for feeding blanks or the like to machines which effect operations other than screw or like nicking.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described with considerable detail, the invention is not limited to the particular construction shown and it is my intention to cover hereby all adaptations and modifications thereof which come within the practice of those skilled in the art to which the invention relates and within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a screw or like nicking machine comprising a power actuated carrier drum rotatable about a generally horizontal axis and having radial slots in an end face thereof for receiving headed blanks at a pickup station with their heads projecting radially from said slots, power means for continuously rotating said carrier drum whereby blanks carried thereby are conveyed past a metal cutting saw located within the carrier drum and rotatable about an axis parallel with but offset from the axis of rotation of the carrier drum, a wheel-like member having a plurality of axially extending apertures in its periphery for receiving the shanks of blanks suspended thereon by their heads, means for rotatably supporting said wheel-like member for rotation about a generally vertical axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said carrier drum with its periphery adjacent to the end of said carrier drum at said pickup station, means for continuously rotating said carrier drum, means for continuously rotating said wheel-like member in predetermined timed relation 'to the rotation of said carrier drum whereby said apertures of said wheel-like member are successively brought into registry with said slots of said carriendrum, means for feeding blanks into said apertures of said wheel-like member, means for radially ejecting blanks from said apertures in said wheel-like member and moving them into said slots in said carrier drum while in registry, and means extending about a portion of the periphery of said wheel-like member for retaining blanks in said apertures in said wheel-likemember as they are carried thereby to said pickup station.

'2. In a screw or like nicking machine comprising a power actuated rotatable carrier drum having radial slots in an end face thereof for receiving headed blanks with their heads projecting from said slots and conveying them past a metal cutting saw rotatable about an axis parallel with but offset from the axis of rotation of the carrier drum, a wheel-like member having a plurality of axially extending blankreceiving apertures in its periphery and rotatable about an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said carrier drum with its periphery adjacent to the end of said carrier drum, a first member having a flat surface disposed generally parallel with the axis of rotation of said wheel-like member, a portion of said surface being disposed adjacent to the periphery of said wheellike member, a second member having a surface substantially parallel with and spaced from said surface of said first member to form therewith a groove of less width than the heads of the blanks and terminating adjacent to the periphery of said wheel-like member Within which groove the shanks of blanks to be fed are adapted to project, means for moving said first member to cause said surface thereon to move toward said wheellike member whereby blanks having their shanks projecting into said groove are moved into said apertures in said Wheel-like member, means for rotating said wheel-like member in predetermined timed relation to the rotation of said carrier drum whereby said apertures of said wheellike member are successively brought into registry with said slots of said carrier drum, means for ejecting blanks from said apertures in said wheel-like member and moving them into said slots in said carrier drum while in registry, and means for retaining blanks in said apertures in said wheel-like member intermediate the end of said groove and said ejecting means.

3. In a screw or like nicking machine comprising a power actuated rotatable carrier drum having radial slots in an end face thereof for receiving headed blanks with their heads projecting from said slots and conveying them past a metal cutting saw rotatable about an axis parallel with but offset from the axis of rotation of the carrier drum, a wheel-1ike member having a plurality of axially extending blank-receiving apertures in its periphery and rotatable about an axissubstantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said carrier drum with its periphery adjacent to the end of said carrier drum, a power-driven fiat band having a portion of one reach adjacent to the periphery of said wheellike member and disposed generally parallel with its axis of rotation, the upper edge of said band being located in substantially the same plane as the upper edge of the wheel like member adjacent to its periphery, a member having a surface substantially parallel with said reach of said band and spaced therefrom a distance greater than the diameter of the blank shanks and less than the diameter of the blank heads and forming therewith a groove terminating adjacent to the periphery of said wheel-like member Within which groove or slot the shanks of blanks suspended by their heads on said band are adapted to project, means for moving said band to cause said reach to move toward said wheel-like member whereby blanks suspended thereon by their heads with their shanks projecting into said groove are moved into said apertures in said wheel-like member as said apertures sweep past the end of said groove, means for rotating said wheel-like member in predetermined timed relation to the rotation of said carrier drum whereby said apertures of said wheel-like member are successively brought into registry with said slots of said carrier drum, means for ejecting blanks from said apertures in said wheel-like member and moving them into said slots in said carrier drum while in registry, and means for retaining blanks in said apertures in said wheel-like member intermediate the end of said groove and said ejecting means.

4;. In a screw or like nicking machine comprising a power actuated rotatable carrier drum having radial slots in an end face thereof for receiving headed blanks with their heads projecting from said slots and conveying them past a metal cutting saw located within the carrier drum and rotatable about an axis parallel with but offset from the axis of rotation of the carrier drum, a wheel-like member having a plurality of axially extending blank-receiving apertures in its periphery, means for supporting said wheellike member for rotation about a generally vertical axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said carrier drum with the periphery of the wheel-like member adjacent to the end of said carrier drum, a power-driven flat band having a portion of one reach adjacent to and disposed parallel with the axis of rotation of said wheel-like member, the upper edge of said band being located in substantially the same plane as the upper edge of the wheel-like member adjacent to its periphery, a member having a surface substantially parallel with said reach cf said band and spaced therefrom a distance greater than the diameter of the blank shanks and less than the diameter of the blank heads and forming therewith a groove terminating adjacent to the periphery of said wheel-like member within which groove or slot the shanks of blanks suspended by their heads on said band are adapted to project, means for moving said band to cause said reach to move toward said wheel-like member whereby blanks suspended thereon by their heads with their shanks projecting into said groove are moved into said apertures in said wheel-like member as said apertures sweep past the end of said groove, means for rotating said wheel-like member in predetermined timed relation to the rotation of said carrier drum whereby said apertures of said wheel-like member are successively brought into registry with said slots of said carrier drum, cam means located adjacent to said wheel-like memher for ejecting blanks from said apertures in said wheel-like member and moving them into said slots in said carrier drum when said slots are in registry, and means for retaining blanks in said apertures in said wheel-like member intermediate the end of said groove and said ejecting means.

5. In a screw or like nicking machine comprising a power actuated rotatable carrier drum having radial slots in an end face thereof for receiving headed blanks with their heads projecting from said slots and conveying them past a metal cutting saw rotatable about an axis parallel with but offset from the axis of rotation of the carrier drum, a wheel-like member having a plurality of axially extending blank-receiving apertures in its periphery and rotatable about an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said carrier drum with its periphery adjacent to the end of said carrier drum, a first member having a surface disposed generally parallel with the axis of rotation of said wheellike member, a portion of said surface being disposed adjacent to the periphery of said wheellike member, a second member having a surface substantially parallel with and spaced from said surface of said first member to form therewith a groove of less width than the heads of the blanks and terminating adjacent to the periphery of said wheel-like member within which groove the shanks of blanks to be fed are adapted to project, means for moving said first member to cause said surface thereon to move toward said wheel-like member whereby blanks having their shanks projecting into said groove are moved toward said wheel-like member, a second wheellike member disposed adjacent to the end of said groove and having circumferentially spaced blank receiving axially disposed slots in its periphery, said second rotatable wheel-like member having its axis substantially parallel with that of the first mentioned wheel-like member and its periphery adapted to engage underneath the heads of blanks carried thereto by said band, means for rotating said first-mentioned wheel-like member in predetermined timed relation to the rotation of said carrier drum whereby said apertures of said first-mentioned wheel-like member are successively brought into registry with said slots of said carrier drum, means for ejecting blanks from said apertures in said first-mentioned wheel-like member and moving them into said slots in said carrier drum while in registry, and means for retaining blanks in said apertures in said first-mentioned wheel-like member intermediate the end of said groove and said ejecting means.

6. In a screw or like nicking machine comprising a power actuated rotatable carrier drum having radial slots in an end face thereof for receiving headed blanks with their heads proj ectingfrom said slots and conveying them past a metal cutting saw rotatable about an axis parallel with but oifset from the axis of rotation of the carrier drum, a wheel-like member having a plurality of axially extending blank-receiving apertures in its periphery and rotatable aboutan axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said carrier drum with its periphery adjacent to the end of said carrier drum, a powerdriven flat band having a portion of one reach adjacent to the periphery of said wheel-like member and disposed generally parallel with its axis of rotation, the upper edge of said band being located in substantially the same plane as the upper edge of the wheel-like member adjacent to its periphery, a member having a surface substantially parallel with said reach of said band and spaced therefrom a distance greater than the diameter of the blank shanks, and less than the diameter of the blank heads and forming therewith a groove terminating adjacent to the periphery of said wheel-like member within which groove or slot the shanks of blanks suspended by their heads on said band are adapted to project, means for moving said band to cause said reach to move toward said wheel-like member whereby blanks suspended thereon by their heads with their shanks projecting into said groove are moved toward said wheel-like member, a second wheel-like member disposed adjacent to the end of said groove and having circumferentially spaced blank receiving axially disposed slots in its periphery, said second rotatable wheel-like member having its axis substantially parallel with that of the first-mentioned wheel-like member and its periphery adapted to engage underneath the heads of blanks carried thereto by said band, means for rotating said first-mentioned wheel-like member in predetermined timed relation to the rotation of said carrier drum whereby said apertures of said first-mentioned wheel-like member are successively brought into registry with said slots of said carrier drum, means for ejecting blanks from said apertures in said first-mentioned wheel-like member and moving them into said slots in said carrier drum while in registry, and means for retaining blanks in said apertures in said firstmentioned wheel-like member intermediate the end of said groove and said ejecting means.

7. In a screw or like nicking machine comprising a power actuated rotatable carrier drum having radial slots in an end face thereof for receiving headed blanks with their heads projecting from said slots and conveying them past a metal cutting saw located within the carrier drum and rotatable about an axis parallel with but offset from the axis of rotation of the carrier drum, a wheel-like member having a, plurality of axially extending blank-receiving apertures in its periphery, means for supporting said wheel-like member for rotation about a generally vertical axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said carrier drum with the periphery of the wheel-like member adjacent to the end of said carrier drum, a power-driven flat band having a portion of one reach adjacent to the periphery of said wheel-like member and disposed generally parallel with its axis of rotation, the upper edge of said band being located in substantially the same plane as the upper edge of the wheellike member adjacent to its periphery, a member having a surface substantially parallel with said reach of said band and spaced therefrom a distance greater than the diameter of the blank shanks and less than the diameter of the blank heads and forming therewith a groove terminating adjacent to the periphery of said wheel-like member within which groove or slot the shanks of blanks suspended by their heads on said band are adapted to project, means for moving said band to cause said reach to move toward said wheel-like member whereby blanks suspended thereon by their heads with their shanks projecting into said groove are moved toward said wheellike member, a second wheel-like member disposed adjacent to the end of said groove and hav ing circumferentially spaced blank receiving axially disposed slots in its periphery, said second rotatable wheel-like member having its axis substantially parallel with that of the first mentioned wheel-like member and its periphery adapted to engage underneath the heads of blanks carried thereto by said band, means for rotating said first-mentioned wheel-like member in predetermined timed relation to the rotation of said carrier drum whereby said apertures of said firstmentioned wheel-like member are successively brought into registry with said slots of said carrier drum, cam means located adjacent to said firstmentioned wheel-like member for ejecting blanks from said apertures in said first-mentioned wheellike member and moving them into said slots in said carrier drum when said slots are in registry, and means for retaining blanks in said apertures in said first-mentioned Wheel-like member intermediate the end of said groove and said ejecting means.

8. In improved feed apparatus for headed screw blanks and the like, a rotary wheel-like member supported for rotation about a generally vertical axis, said Wheel-like member having a plurality of axially extending blank-receiving apertures in its circumference, means for continuously rotating said wheel-like member, a generally horizontal power-driven fiat band having a portion of one reach disposed adjacent to the circumference of said wheel-like member and disposed generally parallel with its axis of rotation, the upper edge of said band being disposed at substantially the same height as the upper peripheral edge of said wheel-like member, a portion of said band being disposed adjacent to the periphery of said wheellike member, a second member having a surface substantially parallel with said reach of said band and spaced therefrom a distance greater than the diameter of the blank shanks and less nan the diameter of the blank heads forming therewith a groove terminating adjacent to the periphery of said wheel-like member within which groove the shanks of blanks suspended by their heads on the upper edge of said band are adapted to project, means for moving said band to cause said reach to move toward said wheel-like member whereby blanks suspended by their heads with their shanks projecting into said groove are moved toward said wheel-like member, a second wheel-like member rotatable about a generally vertical axis and disposed just above said first-mentioned wheel-like member adjacent to the end of said groove,' said second wheel-like member having circumferentially spaced axially extending slots in its periph" ery adapted to receive the shanks of blanks, means for supporting said second wheel-like member for movement substantially perpendicular to the plane or" said reach of said band, means for urging said second wheel-like member in a direction to engage the periphery thereof underneath the heads of blanks supported by said reach of said band, and means for retaining blanks in said apertures in said first-named wheel-like member.

9. In improved feed apparatus for headed screw blanks and the like, a rotatable wheel-like member having a plurality of axially extending blank-receiving apertures in its periphery, means for continuously rotating said wheel-like member, a first member having a surface disposed gen erally parallel with the axis of rotation of said wheel-like member, a portion of said surface being disposed adjacent to the periphery of said wheel-like member, a second member having a surface substantially parallel with said surface on said first member and spaced therefrom a distance greater than the and less than the diameter of the blank heads forming therewith a groove terminating adjacent to the periphery of said wheel-like member within which groove the shanks of blanks suspended by their heads on said first member are adapted to 4 project, means for moving said first member to cause said surface thereon to move toward said wheel-like member whereby blanks suspended thereon by their heads with their shanks projecting into said groove are moved toward and into said apertures in said wheel-like member as said apertures sweep past the end of said groove upon rotation of said wheel-like member, and a, second rotatable wheel-like member disposed adjacent to the end of said groove and having circumferentially spaced axially extending slots in its periphery adapted to engage underneath the heads of blanks moving toward said first-named wheellike member.

10. In improved feed apparatus for headed screw blanks and the like, a rotatable wheel-like member having a plurality of axially extending evenly spaced blank receiving apertures in its periphery, means for continuously rotating said wheel-like member, a power-driven fiat band havdiamet-er of the shank blanks 5 ing a portion of one reach adjacent to the periphcry of said wheel-like member and disposed generally parallel with the axis of rotation, the upper edge of said band being disposed in substantially the same plane as the upper edge of the Wheellike member adjacent to its periphery, a member having a surface substantially parallel with said reach of said band and spaced therefrom a distance greater than the diameter of the blank shanks and less than the diameter of the blank heads and forming therewith a groove or slot terminating adjacent to the periphery of said wheellike member within which groove or slot the shanks of blanks suspended by their heads on said band are adapted to project, mean for moving said band to cause said reach to move toward said wheel-like member whereby blanks suspended thereon by their heads with their shanks projecting into said slot or groove are moved into said apertures in said wheel-like member as said apertures sweep past the end of said groove or slot upon rotation of said wheel-like member, means for retaining blanks in said apertures, and a second rotatable wheel-like member disposed adjacent to the end of said groove and having circumferentially spaced blank receiving axially disposed slots in its periphery, table wheel-like member having its axis substantially parallel with that of the first-mentioned wheel-like member and its periphery adapted to engage underneath the heads of blanks carried thereto by said band.

11. In a screw or like nicking machine comprising a carrier member rotatable about a nonvertical axis and having radial slots in an end face thereof for receiving headed blanks at a pick-up station with their heads projecting radially from said slots, power means for continuously rotating said carrier member whereby blanks carried thereby are conveyed past a metal cutting tool, a wheel-like member for carrying headed blanks suspended thereon by their heads, means for rotatably supporting said wheel-like member for rotation about a non-horizontal axis generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said carrier member and with the periphery of said wheellike member adjacent to the end of said carrier member at said pick-up station, means for continuously rotating said wheel-like member, means for feeding blanks to said wheel-like member, means adjacent to said pick-up station for ejecting blanks from said wheel-like member and moving them into said slots in said carrier member, and means extending about a portion of the periphery of said wheel-like member for retaining blanks thereon as they are carried thereby to said pick-up station.

12. In a screw or like nicking machine comprising a carrier member rotatable about a nonvertical axis and having radial slots in an end facethereof for receiving headed blanks at a pick-up station with their heads projecting radially from said slots, power means for continuously rotating said carrier member whereby blanks carried thereby are conveyed past a metal cutting tool, a wheel-like member having a plurality of axially extending apertures in its periphery for receiving the shanks of headed blanks suspended thereon by their heads, means for rotatably supporting said wheel-like member for rotation about a non-horizontal axis generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said carrier member and with the periphery of said wheel-like member adjacent to the end of said carrier member at said Pick-up station, means for continuously rotating said second rota said wheel-like'member in predetermined timed relation to the rotation of said carrier member whereby said apertures of said wheel-like member are successively brought into registry with said slots of said carrier member, means for feeding blanks into said apertures of said wheel-like member, means adjacent to said pick-u station for ejecting blanks from said apertures in said Wheellike member and moving them into said slots in said carrier member, and means extending about a portion of the periphery of said wheel-like member for retaining blanks in said apertures therein as they are carried thereby to said pick-up station.

'13. In a screw or like nicking machine comprising a carrier member rotatable about a nonvertical axis and having a ring-shaped axial projection with radial slots in an end face thereof for receiving headed blanks at a pick-up station located adjacent to the bottom of the circular path traveled by said slots with their heads projecting radially from said slots, power means for continuously rotating said carrier member where by blanks carried thereby are conveyed past a metal cutting tool located within the carrier member, a wheel-like member for carrying headed blanks suspended thereon by their heads, means for rotatably supporting said wheel-like member for rotation about a non-horizontal axis generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said carrier member and with the periphery of said wheel-like member adjacent to the end of said carrier member at said pick-up station, means for continuously rotating said wheel-like member, means for feeding blanks to said wheellike member, means adjacent to said pick-up station for ejecting blanks from said wheel-like member and moving them into said slots in said carrier member, and means extending about a portion of the periphery of said wheel-like member for retaining blanks thereon as they are carried thereby to said pick-up station.

14. In a screw or like nicking machine comprising a carrier member rotatable about a nonvertical axis and having radial slots in an end face thereof for receiving headed blanks at a pick-up station with their heads projecting radially from said slots, power means for continuously rotating said carriermember whereby blanks carried thereby are conveyed past a metal cutting tool, a Wheel-like member for carrying headed blanks suspended thereon by their heads, means for rotatably supporting said wheel-like member for rotation about a non-horizontal axis generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said carrier member and with the periphery of said wheel-like member adjacent to the end of said carrier member at said pick-up station, means for continuously rotating said wheel-like member, a first member having a surface disposed generally parallel with the axis of rotation of said wheel-like member, a portion of said surface being disposed adjacent to the periphery of said wheel-like member, a second member having a guide surface substantially parallel with and spaced from said surface on said first member to form therewith a groove or slot of less Width than the heads of the blanks and terminating adj acent to the periphery of said wheel-like member within which groove or slot the shanks of blanks to be fed are adapted to project, means for moving said first member to cause said surface thereon to move toward said wheel-like member whereby blanks having their shanks projecting into said slot or groove are moved into engagement with said wheel-like member, means adjacent to said pick-up station for ejecting blanks from said wheel-like member and moving them into said slots in said carrier member, and means extending about a portion of the periphery of said wheel= like member for retaining blanks thereon as theyare carried thereby to said pick-up station.

15. In a screw or like nicking machine comprising a carrier member rotatable about a non-vertical axis and having radial slots in an end face thereof for receiving headed blanks at a pick-up station with their heads projecting radially from said slots, power means for continuously rotat-.

ing said carrier member whereby blanks carried thereby are conveyed past a metal cutting tool, a

wheel-like member having a plurality of axially extending apertures in its periphery for receiving the shanks of headed blanks suspended thereon by their heads, means for rotatably supporting,

said wheel-like member for rotation about a non-horizontal axis generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said carrier member and with the periphery of said wheel-like member adjacent to the end of said carrier member at said pick-up station, means for continuously rotating said wheel-like member in predetermined timed relation to the rotation of said carrier member whereby said apertures of said wheel-like member are successively brought into registry with said slots of said carrier member, a first member having a surface disposed generally parallel with the axis of rotation of said wheel-like member, a portion of said surface being disposed adjacent to the periphery of said wheel-like member, a second member having a guide surface substantially parallel with and spaced from said surface on said first member to form therewith a groove or slot terminating adjacent to the periphery of said wheel-like member within which groove or slot the shanks of blanks to be fed are adapted to project, means for moving said first member to cause said surface thereon to move toward said wheel-like member whereby blanks having their shanks projecting into said slot or groove are moved into said apertures in said wheel-like member, means adjacent to said pickup station for ejecting blanks from said apertures in said wheel-like member and moving them into said slots in said carrier member, and means extending about a portion of the periphery of said wheel-like member for retaining blanks in said apertures therein as they are carried thereby to said pick-up station.

16. In a screw or like nicking machine comprising a carrier member rotatable about a nonvertical axis and having a ring-shaped axial projection with radial slots in an end face thereof for receiving headed blanks at a pick-up station located adjacent to the bottom of the circular path traveled by said slots with their heads projecting radially from said slots, power means for continuously rotating said carrier member whereby blanks carried thereby are conveyed past a metal cutting tool located within the carrier member, a Wheel-like member for carrying headed blanks suspended thereon by their heads, means for rotatably supporting said wheel-like member for rotation about a non-horizontal axis generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said carrier member and with the periphery of said Wheel-like member adjacent to the end of said carrier member at said pick-up station, means for continuously rotating said wheel-like member, a power-driven flat band having a portion of one reach adjacent to the periphery of 1 5 said'wheel-like member and disposed generally parallel with its axis of rotation, the upper edge of said band being disposedin substantially the same plane as the upper edge of the periphery of said wheel-like member, a guide member hav ing a surface substantially parallel with said reach of said band and spaced therefrom to form therewith a groove or slot of less width than the heads of the blanks and terminating adjacent to theperiphery of said wheel-like member within which groove or slot the shanks of blanks to be fed are adapted to project, means for moving said band to cause said reach thereof to move toward said wheel-like member whereby blanks having their shanks projecting into said slot or groove are moved into engagement with said wheel-like member, means adjacent to said pickup station for ejecting blanks from said wheellike member and moving them intosaid slots in 118 said carrier member, and means extending about a portion of the periphery of said Wheel-like member for retaining blanks thereon as they are carried thereby to said pick-up station.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 275,558 Wills et a1 Apr. 10, 1883 602,288 Hubbell Apr. 12, 1898 1,099,678 Warwick June 9, 1914 1,764,606 Cook June 17. 1930 2,278,599 Veit Apr. 7, 1942 2,435,652 Koehler Feb. 10, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 102,584 Switzerland Dec. 17, 1923 

